Pride party at Saffron Walden
Quakers in Saffron Walden have much to be proud about. Their town has been named the best place to live in the UK - and civic leaders have followed this up with launching the town's first ever Pride event.
To celebrate, Friends organised a special Pride family-friendly party at the meeting house in the centre of the town.
"Our aim was to invite all ages and identities to a joyful celebration of the queer community filled with community connection and solidarity," explained Elizabeth Rawlinson-Mills, one of the organisers.
As well as garden and tabletop games there was the opportunity to craft bracelets, origami peace cranes, badges, stickers, knitting, crochet, and a colouring corner. In addition orgainsers arranged a mini exhibition inspired by the Queer Britain Museum, exploring queer history, activism, movement, and spirituality. There was also a reading nook with a curated collection of queer stories, memoirs, and poetry, and a sensory-friendly space with beanbags, pillows, and fidget toys for rest and relaxation.
"Our local library came to provide a Queer book corner with special temporary library cards so that the books could be borrowed directly from our event," shared Clare Yerbury, another of the organisers. “And the Open Mic session was particularly appreciated – an hour of stories, poems, and songs with lots of laughter, as well as moments that were deeply moving."
Since the event, the meeting has welcomed three newcomers. Leading up to the party a Quaker LGBTQ+ activism learning lunch had already provided a rich and valuable discussion at meeting.
"The success of the event proves just how impactful it can be reaching out to the wider community," said Local Development Worker for the area, Aileen Braidwood. "I was also told that one of the attenders remarked that for the first time ever they felt 'at home' in their town because our Pride Party coincided with Saffron Walden's inaugural Pride event and the town was starting to feel more inclusive."
If you'd like to run an event but don't know where to start, reach out to your Local Development Worker.